Latching device



Aug. 4, 1936.

D H. ZELL LATCHING DEVICE Original Filed June 25, 1934 INVENTOR. fian'd 15/. ZeZZ. BY gm 5; ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE now Patent No.

2,010,909, issued August 13, 1935. Divided and this application September 28, 1934, Serial No. 745,919

12 Claims.

This invention relates to latching devices and has for its general object and purpose to provide certain improvements in the latch device described and claimed in Patent No. 1,931,216, issued to me on October 17, 1933. The subject matter of the present application constitutes a division of my patent application, filed June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,213, now Patent No. 2,010,909, issued on August 13, 1935.

10 A more particular object of the invention is to provide a latch device for the door or cover of vanity cases and analogous articles in the form of a one-piece member, housed within but unattached to the case structure, and having a plu- 15 rality of operating parts, projecting exte'riorly of the case, the simultaneous operation of which is required to actuate the latch and release the door or cover for movement to open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide 2 a latching device of the above character which will securely hold the door in its closed position, and by reason of its simple construction and the ease and facility with which it may be assembled in the case body, effect a desirable economy 25 in the manufacturing cost of such cases.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved latching device and in the form construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as will herein- 30 after be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of my present 35 invention, and in which similar reference char-' acters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vanity case provided with my new latching device,

40 the door of the case being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, the case being shown in 45 section.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the door latching member.

Fig. 5- is a detail perspective view of the latching device.

50 For the purpose of illustrating one application of my present invention, in the drawing I have shown a vanity case having a body 5 open on one side to receive a cosmetic container 6, and provided with a door or closure I mounted on a 55 spring hinge B. The container is, of course, nonessential and the case may be of various other forms and dimensions than that shown in the drawing.

The novel latching device, shown in Fig. 5, which forms the subject matter of this applica- 5 tion, is loosely housed within one end of the case body 5. This device is in the form of a one-piece strip of spring steel 9, which, as herein shown, has a central bowed section I0, provided with an upstanding keeper II. This keeper has a laterally offset lip l2 struck therefrom. The strip 9 near its opposite ends is preferably twisted to provide the finger pieces I3, disposed at right angles to the remaining portion of the strip. These finger pieces project outwardly from opposite sides of the case 5 through suitable openings 5 in the wall thereof. As shown in Fig. 3 the bowed section of the strip 9 extends under the offset end 6 of the tray 6 and the keeper ll projects upwardly through an opening formed therein The door 1 of the case is provided at its free end with an apertured lug M, which, when the door is closed enters between the upwardly extending offset part of the container 6 and the keeper ll, striking the lip i2 of the latter and displacing the keeper against the resistance of the spring strip 9. When the door is fully closed the keeper returns to normal position and lip I2 thereof enters the aperture of lug I4.

Accidental pressure against either of the finger pieces is ineffective to operate the latch and release the door, as the latch strip would merely be shifted bodily in the direction of its length. It is necessary to simultaneously press both finger pieces 13 inwardly. This causes the bowed central section 10 of the latch strip to yield, thus laterally displacing the keeper l I from its normal position to disengage the lip l2 from the lug l4. Thereupon the spring hinge 8 moves the door to its open position.

It will be seen that there is no positive connection of any kind between the latch device and the case body, thus simplifying assemblage of the parts. Also the latch operating means is inconspicuous and has a minimum projection from the body walls of the case so that the ornamental symmetry of the latter is not seriously affected.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and several advantages of my improved latching device will be readily understood. The device is simple, durable and positive and reliable in its functional operation. I have herein disclosed one practical embodiment of the latching member, which may also be employed in other mechanical forms for use in connection with various other types of containers than that shown in the drawing.

Accordingly the privilege is reserved of resorting to all such legitimate modifications in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts, as may be fairly considered within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a case comprising a body open on one side and a hingedly mounted door to close the open side of said case; latching means 1 or said door housed within the case and including a plurality of operating parts, projecting exteriorly of the case, and connecting means between said parts necessitating the simultaneous operation of said parts in reverse directions to actuate the latching means and release the door.

2. In combination with a case comprising a body open on one side and a hingedly mounted door to close the open side of said case; means for releasaLbly latching the door in closed position,

including a one-piece latch member having spaced parts simultaneously operable relatively to each other to actuate said latch member and release the door.

3. In combination with a case comprising a body open on one side and a hingedly mounted door to close the open side of said case; means for releasably latching the door in closed position, including a one-piece latch member housed within the case but unattached thereto, and having a yieldable keeper portion and spaced parts connected therewith, projecting exteriorly of the case for simultaneous operation to actuate said keeper portion and release the door.

4. In combination with a case comprising a body open on one side and a hingedly mounted door to close the open side of said case; means for releasably latching the door in closed position, including a latch member housed within the case and having spaced aligned parts connected by a resiliently yieldable keeper portion, said parts projecting in opposite direction exteriorly of the case for conjoint operation, to actuate said keeper portion and release the door.

5. In combination with a cast comprising a body open on one side and a hingedly mounted door to close the open side of said case; a latch device for said door mounted within the case but unattached thereto and including relatively movable parts projecting in opposite directions exteriorly of the case, for simultaneous manual operation to actuate said latch device and release the door,

6. In combination with a case comprising a body open on one side and a hingedly mounted door to close the open side of said case; a latch device for said door mounted within the case, comprising a metal strip having a bowed, resiliently yieldable portion provided with a latch keeper, opposite ends of the strip extending exteriorly of the case for conjoint operation to actuate said keeper and release the door.

7. A door latch member comprising a metal strip having a bowed, resiliently yieldable portion intermediate of its ends and provided with a latch keeper, and opposite ends of said strip being formed to provide finger pieces for simultaneous operation to actuate said latch keeper.

8. A door latch member comprising a metal strip having a resiliently yieldable intermediate portion provided with a latch keeper, and finger pieces on opposite ends of said strip adapted to be simultaneously operated to actuate said latch keeper.

9. A latch device having a resiliently yieldable keeper portion, operating parts remotely spaced from each other, and relatively rigid means connecting each of the operating parts with said keeper portion, to actuate the latter by conjoint operation of said parts.

10. In combination with a case comprising a body open on one side and a closure therefor;

latch means for said closure housed within the 9 case and including a single keeper, operating parts remotely spaced from each other and projecting exteriorly of the case, and means connecting said operating parts with the keeper responsive to the conjoint operation of said parts to actuate the keeper.

11. In combinatioin with a case comprising a body having an opening in one side and a closure for said opening; a latch device having a keeper lug to coact with a part on the closure and retain the latter in closed position, said latch device being loosely mounted within the case and including spaced relatively movable parts operatively connected with the keeper lug and projecting exteriorly of the case for simultaneous operation to actuate said keeper lug to closure releasing position.

12. In combination with a case comprising a body having an opening in one side and a closure for said opening; a one-piece latch member for said closure, loosely mounted within the case body, and having spaced relatively movable parts projecting exteriorly of the case body for simultaneous manual operation, to actuate said latch member and release the closure.

DAVID H. ZELL. 

